Performance of cross-shaped concrete columns confined by stirrups

The stress-strain curves of confined concrete were obtained based on tests of seven cross-shaped columns confined by stirrups under axial load. The experiment results showed that the strength and deformation of confined concrete can be enhanced effectively by stirrups for cross-shaped columns. Compared with the non-confined concrete, when the stirrup characteristic value is in the range of 0.046-0.230, the confined concrete compressive strengths has an increase of 8%-43%, and the strain corresponding to the peak stress of confined concrete has an increase of 25%-195%. According to the test results, the effects of stirrup characteristic and stirrup spacing on the compressive strength and strain of confined concrete were analysed. It is shown that the compressive strength of confined concrete has a linear relationship with the product of stirrup characteristic value and stirrup effective restraint coefficient, and the strain corresponding to the peak stress of confined concrete has a nonlinear relationship with the product of stirrup characteristic value and stirrup effective restraint coefficient. The stress-strain curve equation of confined concrete was proposed for cross-shaped columns, and the calculated curves are in good agreement with the experimental curves. © Tianjin University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.